Insertable platform for desks



March 1952 J. R. JoNEs ETAL 2,583,344

INSERTABLE PLATFORM FOR DESKS I Filed May 7, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 March 11, 1952 JONES r I 2,588,844

INSERTABLE PLATFORM FOR DESKS Filed May 7, 1949 i 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 I (i {1 Z2 Patented Mar. 11, 1952 INSERTABLE PLATFORM FOR DESKS James R. Jones, Lakewood, and Floyd H. Bloomstran and Victor A. Gronberg, Jamestown, N. Y., assignors to Art Metal Construction Company,

Jamestown, N. Y.

Application May 7, 1949, Serial No. 92,054

Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in the mounting of auxiliary platforms on desks of the usual type for supporting typewriters or other machines on such platforms at a side of the desk to enable persons sitting at the desk to operate such machines, and more particularly to improvements in which the platform is mounted on a drawer which may be inserted into a drawer space of a desk.

One of the objects of this invention is' to provide rigid and secure supporting means for a platform of this type.

Another object is to provide a construction in which a platform for supporting a machine on an insert drawer is movable transversely of the insert drawer.

It is also an object of this invention to provide means of improved construction for rigidly holding the insert drawer against shifting while the machine is in use.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of one embodiment of the invention. and the novel features will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a desk provided with a platform mounted in accordance with this invention and showing thev insert desk drawer partly inserted in the desk.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, erspective view showing the underneath portion of the platform and insert drawer and of the means for supporting the platform from the drawer.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, central, sectional elevation of the platform and showing portions of the desk and insert drawer.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional elevation thereof, showing on an enlarged scale, the slidable connection between the platform and the supporting mean therefor.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation thereof, on line 5-5, Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, enlarged sectional pedestals, in the construction illustrated, is re-' moved and replaced by an insert drawer on which a platform M for a typewriter or other machine is mounted, This insert drawer, except as hereinafter specified, may be similar in construction to the drawers l2, and includes a front l5, sides I I6 and bottom IT. The sides of the insert drawer maybe provided with suitable slide rails [8 or, the like cooperating with similar fixed slide rails Isa provided within the desk pedestal for sliding the drawer into and out of the pedestal.

The platform l4 may be of any suitable or desired construction, that shown being made of, sheet metal and having downwardly extending.

flanges l9 at the edges thereof. In order to support this platform l4 beyond the front [5 of the insert drawer, this drawer is provided with a pair tance beyond said front. Any suitable means may be provided for mounting these arms on the inner.

faces of the sides of the drawer, such for example,

as bolts 22, Figs. 2 and 3, although, if desired, the arms may be welded or otherwise secured to the drawer sides. The arms are made of sufficient strength and rigidity tosupport the weight of the platform and a machine mounted thereon,

and for this purpose the arms are preferably made of metal of substantially U or channel.

shape and the outer or front ends of the arms may be connected. by means of a cross piece 24 to form a rigid supporting structure for the platform.

.If desired, the arms may be provided at the portions thereof adjacent to the outer face of the drawer front 15 with upwardly inclined portions 25, so that the platform l4 may be supported to the desired extent above the upper edge of the drawer front IS. The arms may also be provided on the sides thereoffacing each other with upwardly extending flanges 21.

In order to support the platform I 4 for side-v wise movement with reference to the arms 20 and. 2|, cooperating guide parts or members are'arranged on these arms and on the platform l4. In the particular construction shown by way of example, the arms 20 and 2| are provided with stationary guide rails 28 which extend transversely of and are secured to the arms 20 and ll.

3 inner surfaces of the arms and 2|. If desired, the ends of the stationary guide rails may be slotted to receive the upper flanges of the arms 20 and 2|. Any other suitable means may be employed for securing the stationary guide rails 28 to the arms 20 and 2|.

The platform M is provided on its undersurface. with guide rails or members formed to cooperate with the stationary guide rails 28. The guide rails 30 of the platform I4 include portions which may be welded or otherwise, secured to the undersurface of the platform [4 and downwardly offset portions 3| which extend in spaced relation to the lower surface of the platform M and are adapted to engage the undersurfaces of the upper flanges of the stationary guide rails 28. The upper flanges of the stationary guide rails 28 may be provided with longitudinally extendin hbeads 32 on which the lower surface of the platform |4= may bear. which the upper flanges of the stationary guide rails 28 extend: into the spaces between the offset portions 3| and the platform, this platform is held against vertical movement relatively to the arms 20 and 2|. permits the platform to move laterally of the arms 2|] and 2|.

The upper flanges of the stationary guide rails 28 both extend in the same direction from the upright webs thereof, for example, outwardly with reference to the insert drawer, so that the platform I4 may be moved into operative relation to. the stationary guide rails by first placing the platform on the stationary upper flanges of the stationary guide rails 28, with the guide rails 30 of the platform in spaced relation to the stationary guide rails. The platform may then be moved toward the front panel of the insert drawer so that the lower projections 3| extend under the upper flanges of the stationary guide rails 28-. After the guide rails have been placed into operative relation to each other, stops are employed for holdin them in such relation and preventing movement of the platform in a direction away from the insert drawer front. For

this. purpose in the construction shown, stop.

members are provided which are in the form ofa pair of' upwardly extending small plates v secured to. the arms 20 and 2|. andwhich have their upper ends arranged in close proximity to the outer portions of the guide rails 33. Consequently, movement ofthe platform away from the. insert drawer, which would result in the guide rails moving out of engagement with eachother,

is prevented by these stop. members. Stop means of. any other type for preventing forward movement of the platform |4 relatively to the drawer insert may be provided.

Suitable stop means are also provided for limiting the transverse sliding movement of the platform l4 relatively to thearms 20 and 2|, and

in, the construction shown for this purpose, a pair of resilient pads 3'! are mounted on the lower face of the platform. These pads may be held place in any suitable manner, for example, by means of clips 38 which are welded or. otherwise secured to thelower face of the platform and which have recesses or sockets into which the resilientpads extend and which grip the same, The ends of the pads. extending beyond the clips 38 may. engage stop members 39 secured to and extending upwardly from the arms 20. and 2]. Stop means of other-construction may be provided, if desired;

Means are also provided for locking the insert drawer tothe deskpedestal. to prevent. outward By means of this construction in v This construction, however,

movement of the same during the use of a typewriter or other machine supported on the platform M. In the construction shown for this purpose, a locking bolt or latch 4| is provided which is slidably mounted on an inner panel 42 of the drawer front l5. This locking bolt is guided for vertical movement and when in its upper position as shown in Fig. 7, the bar engages the inner edge of a cross member 43 of the desk pedestal which is arranged immediately above the insert drawer and secured to the pedestal.

The lockin bolt or latch is suitably mounted on the drawer front. i5 by means of a bracket 45 which is preferably made of a single piece of metal having a flange 4% which may be Welded or secured to the inner panel 42 of the drawer front l5, anda flange or arm extending into the interior of the insert drawer and having a recessed or grooved portion 4'1 in which the looking bar 4| is slidably arranged. This bracket terminates beyond the grooved portion in an extension 48.

The movement of the. locking bolt 4| is controlled by means of a lever 53. mounted on a pivot pin 5| on the extension 48 of the bracket,, and this lever extends through an aperture in a flange 53 of the locking bolt or latch 4| and outwardly through registering slots in the drawer front IS, the panel 42 thereof and the fiange 4-8 of the bracket. The lever is biased by means of a spring 54', extending about thepivot pin 5|. One end of the spring extends through an aperture 55 of the lever, and thev other end engages alug 56 formed on the forward extension 48 of the bracket 45. The spring, consequently, urges the lever 53- into an upper position shown in Fig. 7', in which the locking bolt or latch M is, in. its; upper position in engagement with the. inner edge of the cross member 43, of the, desk-pedestal.- The looking bolt is provided at its upper end with a beveled face 58 so that when the insert drawer is inserted into its innermost, position in the desk pedestal, the beveled face 58. engaging the cross member 43. forces the; locking bolt downwardly against the action of the spring and after the locking bolt has passedthe, crossmember 43- itis again moved upwardly into locking position as showninFig. 7,.by means; of thespring 54. When, it is desired to remove the insert drawer from, the

its supporting bracket and within the groove therein by'the lever 50 and by; a turned-over pper end por ion 59 f: he flan 463,. as shown in Fig. 7.

Theylatch or lock; mechanism for holding the insert, drawer-in. the desk is of strong and rigid construction; so as to securely prevent outward movement of the insert drawer during the operation, of a machine mounted on the platform. This mechanism also consists of few; parts and is easily produced; in quantities.

It is very desirable, when a machine mounted. onthe; platform I4: is in use, to prevent vib1;a tions or lost motion of the, platform relatively to, the. desk. and. for this. pu p se, the. particular construction illustrated, a spring; member is mounted on the insert drawer, which yieldingly engages the slide rail [811; of the desk; when the insert; drawer is. in its operative position. In the particular, construction illustrated for this purpose, see particularly Figs. 3 and 6, this spring is of. angle-shape, having alower leg 60 secured to the bottom of the insert drawer by means of screws, bolts, or the like. The spring member has an upwardly extending leg 62 provided at its upper end with a laterally extending flange 63 formed to engage the lower surface of the stationary slide rail 18a of the desk. The flange preferably has a downwardly extending inclined lip 64 to facilitate engagement of the slide rail l8a by the spring member when the insert drawer is moved into its final position within the desk pedestal. By means of this construction, when the insert drawer is in its operative position in the desk pedestal, the stationary slide rail we is gripped between the slide rail 3 of the insert drawer and the flange 64 of the spring member so that a snug fit is produced between the insert drawer and the desk, whereby both .downward and upward movement of the insert drawer relatively to the desk is prevented.

The construction described provides a secure and firm mounting of the machine supporting platform on a desk in such a manner that there is no lost motion or looseness between the insert drawer and the desk which might cause rattling or objectionable noises, or vibrations of a machine supported on the platform. The spring member is mounted in close proximity to the drawer front, so that the spring member .does not become operative until the insert drawer is moved into its final position in the drawer space and is then held in this position by the latch or locking bolt 4|. Consequently, the spring doe not interfere with the free sliding of the insert drawer in the drawer space until the same is almost in its final position, at which time a small additional force is necessary to move the insert drawer into its final position in which the spring member engages the slide rail 58a and the looking bolt or latch is in operative or looking position. The construction has the further advantage that the platform may be moved crosswise of the insert drawer toward and from the operator of the machine so that during normal use of the machine the platform I4 need not extend beyond the side of the desk. The platform, however, may be slid away from the operator to provide ready access to the drawers [2 of the pedestal which are located below the insert drawer, or to position the machine in convenient relation to the operator. By providing lateral adjustment of the platform relatively to the drawer, the platform may be mad wider than was heretofore practical, without interfering with adjacent desks or requiring more floor space, thus affording more room on the platform for copyholders and other articles.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials, and arrangements of parts which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention, as expressed in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a unit for supporting a typewriter or other machine on a desk, including a drawer insertable into a drawer space of a desk, that improvement which includes a pair of arms secured to said drawer and extending forwardly therefrom, a machine supporting platform supported on said arms, a pair of guide rails rigidly secured to said arms and extending crosswise thereof, parts on said platform cooperating with said guide rails and which guide said platform for movement transversely of said arms, and cooperating stop members on said arms and said plat I form to limit the extent to which said platform may move crosswise of said arms.

2. In a unit for supporting a typewriter or other machine on a desk, including an insert wardly therefrom, a machine supporting plat-' form, a pair of guide rails rigidly secured to and extending crosswise of said arms and having portions extending above said arms on which said platform is slidable transversely of said arms, parts on said platform and cooperating with said guide rails for holding said platform against vertical movement relatively to said guide rails, and cooperating stop members on said arms and said platform for limiting the extent to which said platform may slide relatively to said arms crosswise of said arms.

3. A machine supporting unit according to claim 2, characterized in that said guide rails are of channel shape in cross section and each has a substantially horizontal leg extending above the upper surfaces of said arms, said platform being slidable on said legs, and in which the parts on the platform are in the form of guiderails mounted on the lower surface of said platform and having portions thereof extending into engagement with the lower surfaces of said legs for holding said platform against vertical movement relatively to said guide rails.

4. A machine supporting unit according to claim 2, characterized in that said guide rails are of channel shape in cross section and each has a substantially horizontal leg extending above the upper surfaces of said arms, said platform being slidable on said legs, said parts on the platform being in the form of guide rails mounted on the lower surface of said platform and having portions thereof extending into engagement with the lower surfaces of said legs for holding said platform against vertical movement relatively to said guide rails, and stop members on said arms engaging said guide rails of said platform for holding the same in engagement with said guide rails of said arms.

5. In a unit for supporting a typewriter or other machine on a desk, including an insert drawer slidable into a drawer space of a desk, that improvement which includes a pair of arms secured to said insert drawer and extending forwardly therefrom, a machine supporting platform mounted on the portions of said arms which extend beyond said insert drawer, said desk having slide rails in said drawer space, slide rails on the slides of said drawer and formed to slide upon the upper surfaces of said slide rails of said desk, and spring members secured to said insert drawer in position to engage lower surfaces of said slide rails of said desk when said insert drawer is fully inserted into said drawer space, to yieldingly grip said slide rails of said desk between said slide rails of said insert drawer and said spring members, to oppose movement and vibrations of said platform.

6. A construction according to claim 5, in which said spring members are secured to the bottom of the insert drawer and have parts extending upwardly into engagement with said slide rails of the desk.

7. A construction according to claim 5, in which said spring members are secured to said insert drawer adjacent to the front thereof and engage the slide rail of the desk only when said insert; drawer; is moved into. its final position in; said. drawer space.

8. In a unit for: supporting a. typewriter or other; machine on a desk; including an insert drawer slidable into. a. drawer space. of a. desk, that. improvement. which. includes. a pair. of arms. secured. to said insert drawer and. extending for:- wardly therefrom, a machine. supporting plat.- form mounted on the portions of saidarms which extend. beyond said insert drawer, said desk having slide railsv said drawer: space, slide rails; on the. sides of said drawer and. formed to slide upon the up er surfacesof said. slide, rails of. said; desk; spring; members secured to said insertdrawer in. position to engage lower surfaces of.

said-.- slide rails of said desk. when said insert;

drawer is fully. inserted into said drawer space, to yieldingly grip said slide. railsof said desk between said; slide. rails of: said. insert. drawer and said spring members, to oppose movement andvibraitionsof; said platform, and releasable locking means for holding said insert drawer initsinnermost position in said drawer spaceto prevent; disengagement of said, spring, members from said slide, rail of the desk.

9. A construction according. to claim, 8, inwhich said locking means comprise a latch member mounted onsaid insert drawer and yieldingly urged into engagement. with a. part of said desk whensaid insert drawer is, in its innermostposition in said drawer space.

10. In a unit for supporting a. typewriter or other. machine on a desk, including a drawer insertable into a drawer space, of, a desk, that improvement: which includes. apair of arm rigidly securedv to, said drawer and ext ndin f rwardly therefrom. a machine sup t s p a m s pported, ongsaid arms, a pair of guide rails rigidly secured to said arms and extending crosswise thereof and on. which; said platform rests, a pair of guide, rails. rigidly secured on said platform and.coop,erating withsaid guide railsof said arms to. permit movement of said platform transversely of said: arms, portions of said guide rails of said platformextending; under portions of said.- uide, rails. of said arms. to prevent upward movement ofsaid platform relatively to said arms, and stop means. for. limiting the. transverse movement of saidplatform relatively to said. arms.

JAMES R. JONES. FLOYD BLQOMSTRANL. VICTOR A. GRONBERGi REFERENCES CITED 7 The foliowing references are of record in the file of this patent:-

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